One Pocket = MMA Fighting :-)

JB Cases

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
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Does anyone else think that playing one pocket is like MMA fighting?

What I mean is that when you play one hole you have to know all the moves from different disciplines. You have to know how to bank, how to kick, how to carom and how to play combinations, you need the touch of straight pool, the ability to fire in tough shots as in 9 ball, the discipline to play safe or take a foul when it's the right move and so on.

You are constantly at the table trading blows or playing long series of relatively boring yet effective safes, similar to the wrestling/grappling portion of MMA. Then once in while you find a knockout shot that comes from nowhere to send your opponent reeling.

I get really worn out playing one hole, the constant thinking on top of the need to execute properly seems to me to be a lot like MMA without the physical danger :-)
 
I don't know about playing 1 pocket, but i'm pretty sure that watching others play 1 pocket is about as much fun as getting waterboarded.

I bought a TAR weekend once $35 for some 8 ball, some 10 ball and some 1 pocket and after watching almost 12hrs of 1 pocket i started buying TAR days separately i'd rather pay $15 for the 8 ball and $15 for the 10 ball and skip the 1 pocket. That's right, for me, 1 pocket isn't even worth $5 to watch...lol.

Now, if it were actually more like MMA and Corey Deuel put someone in an armbar and snapped it at the elbow, i might watch some 1 pocket.
 
Lumocolor said:
I don't know about playing 1 pocket, but i'm pretty sure that watching others play 1 pocket is about as much fun as getting waterboarded.

I bought a TAR weekend once $35 for some 8 ball, some 10 ball and some 1 pocket and after watching almost 12hrs of 1 pocket i started buying TAR days separately i'd rather pay $15 for the 8 ball and $15 for the 10 ball and skip the 1 pocket. That's right, for me, 1 pocket isn't even worth $5 to watch...lol.

Now, if it were actually more like MMA and Corey Deuel put someone in an armbar and snapped it at the elbow, i might watch some 1 pocket.
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It's kind of funny how perspectives can be so different. I'm bored stiff when I watch 9 or 10 ball. One pocket is the only game I enjoy spectating. There are so many options in any given scenario and watching what the top level players shoot is very interesting to me.
It is a subtle game though, some of the most powerful shots are simple and hard to spot.

To each his own. :thumbup:

Dudley
 
Dudley said:
It's kind of funny how perspectives can be so different. I'm bored stiff when I watch 9 or 10 ball. One pocket is the only game I enjoy spectating. There are so many options in any given scenario and watching what the top level players shoot is very interesting to me.
It is a subtle game though, some of the most powerful shots are simple and hard to spot.

To each his own. :thumbup:

Dudley
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To each his own indeed sir :)

I'm not saying i'd never play 1 pocket (hell, i'm darn good at missing shots that i'm trying to make so i might be pretty good at a game where you're trying to miss 95% of the time...lol), i just can't watch professionals that are so good at making shots spend their time nudging balls around 2 inches for 45 minutes, it pains me about as much as watching novices who can't run 2 balls.
 
Thats because you do not understand the game and have no desire to learn . Watching 1 pocket gives you a chance to see how others move out of a bad spot to change it around in their favor. it is amazing how a simple little move can change the outcome of the game.---Smitty
 
JB Cases said:
Does anyone else think that playing one pocket is like MMA fighting?
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I thought one pocket would be a good tv game if they presented it like poker and only showed highlights and player back stories. How boring would tv poker be if they actually showed every hand.
 
I don't know that one pocket would ever be good for tv. Poker does work on TV almost only because of the hole cards. There isn't really an equivalent in pool, what you're facing is there for everyone to see. I would NEVER watch poker without the hole cards simply because to me it's only exciting if I know something that the players don't and I can watch them mess with each other without knowing exactly what they will do.

My point though wasn't what's good for tv - I jsut feel like one pocket is the one game where you have to have pretty good command of all aspects of all games. 3 cushion billiards, banks, the shotmaking in rotation games, the touch of balkline, combinations, position play like straight pool and nine ball, safety play from eight and nine ball, the brushing touch safes from snooker, it's all there. You have to do SO MUCH MORE with the cue ball than in other games is why I compare it to MMA. And not only do you have to know and master the techniques from those games but also you have to be able to think like a chess player and manipulate the balls into positions that tie up your opponent. There are those who are great balls runners, those who are great movers, those who play the end game with 2-3 balls amazing well and other who never miss a bank since Mose parted the red sea. Like MMA fighters some people are really strong in one area and competent in others but in order to even step in the ring they have to know enough in all areas to survive and thrive.
 
jordan23042000 said:
I thought one pocket would be a good tv game if they presented it like poker and only showed highlights and player back stories. How boring would tv poker be if they actually showed every hand.
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I agree!

One pocket creates THE most exciting shots in pool but they only happen a few times a rack.
 
JB Cases said:
I don't know that one pocket would ever be good for tv. Poker does work on TV almost only because of the hole cards. There isn't really an equivalent in pool, what you're facing is there for everyone to see. I would NEVER watch poker without the hole cards simply because to me it's only exciting if I know something that the players don't and I can watch them mess with each other without knowing exactly what they will do.

My point though wasn't what's good for tv - I jsut feel like one pocket is the one game where you have to have pretty good command of all aspects of all games. 3 cushion billiards, banks, the shotmaking in rotation games, the touch of balkline, combinations, position play like straight pool and nine ball, safety play from eight and nine ball, the brushing touch safes from snooker, it's all there. You have to do SO MUCH MORE with the cue ball than in other games is why I compare it to MMA. And not only do you have to know and master the techniques from those games but also you have to be able to think like a chess player and manipulate the balls into positions that tie up your opponent. There are those who are great balls runners, those who are great movers, those who play the end game with 2-3 balls amazing well and other who never miss a bank since Mose parted the red sea. Like MMA fighters some people are really strong in one area and competent in others but in order to even step in the ring they have to know enough in all areas to survive and thrive.
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Thats an excellent point about people's strengths, i seem to remember watching a match of bugs on youtube and was shocked at how hard he was banking the balls.
I still think one pocket could be presented on tv, they could show highlights, emphasize the gambling and the history. One pocket and banks just seem to have the most colorful charachters. Dont mean to derail the thread to pool and tv, im sure thats been done to death lol
 
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